Save Energy, Save Money

Predicting how our choices today
might affect the future can bring on a lot of anxiety.But thinking about what kind of world we want
for future generations is an important aspect of sustainability.While sustainable decisions are important on
a global scale, the choices we make on a personal level are just as important.

Personal decisions we can make
regarding energy consumption is an important part of preserving our future.Much of the energy we are using today is
wasted, and finding ways to save it won’t even impact our day to day lives.But even if you aren’t particularly
interested in the sustainability of energy, you too can save with these energy
saving tactics.

1.Wear the right clothes for the climate

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What is the temperature outside?Is it winter or summer?What are you wearing right now?How hard is your home heating or cooling
system working to keep you comfortable?By wearing the right clothes for the climate, you could save hundreds of
dollars a year in heating and cooling costs.So layer-up in the winter, and strip down in the summer.

2.Set the temperature of your clothes washer to
warm, not hot.

Lots of people use hot water to
wash their clothing.For certain
clothing, this is a necessary setting for care.But make sure you are only washing clothes that require that
temperature.When you are doing laundry
that is OK to wash cold, make sure to turn down that temperature setting.The savings in your water heating bill will
be worth it, and the CO2 savings will be worth it as well.

3.Turn off, or replace, your lighting.

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Did you know that about 10% of
your electric bill is made up of lighting cost?An easy way to save energy is to get in the habit of turning off the
lights when you leave the room.If you
are already doing this, great!The next
step is to start replacing you lighting with high efficiency LED lights.LED lighting will last years, and these days,
look pretty much the same as any other light.

4.Check your refrigerator.

Your refrigerator uses more energy
than almost anything in your home.It is
really important to make sure is running efficiently.Check the temperature and set it between 35
and 38 degrees.Another way to make your
refrigerator efficient is to check the rubber seal that runs around the
door.Fix any loose seals so that cool
air stays in.

5.Install a ceiling fan.

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Air conditioning is a great
invention for those hot summer nights.But
did you know that your air conditioner is probably running 4 degrees cooler
than it needs to be?By installing a ceiling
fan, and circulating the cool air in your home, you can raise the temperature
in the summer and you will never know the difference.

By implementing even a few of
these simple suggestions, you can reduce your CO2 footprint, as well as your
electric bill.You will be saving the
world while saving your money!